Test tube holder and support



April 16, 1963 J. R. MYCOCK ETA]. 3,085,776

TEST TUBE HOLDER AND SUPPORT Oct. 17, F|G.1

r... m c Y mM .N m H a T 5M W 6 United States Patent 3,085,776 TEST TUBE HOLDER AND SUPPORT John R. Mycock, Trenton, and Dewey H. Palmer, Oradell, N.J., assignors to Clay-Adams, Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 63,142 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-153) This invention relates to combination test tube holders and supports.

Conventional test tube holders are formed frombent wire which includes opposed jaws resiliently biased toward each other for gripping a test tube therebetween and handle means extending rearwardly from the jaws and arranged for compressed movement to displace the jaws to allow for engagement or disengagement of the test tube.

However, such known holders only serve to grasp the tube for the purpose of heating the same or otherwise manipulating the tube. Thereafter, the test tube is transferred from the holder to a support such as test tube rack.

Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide an improved test tube holder which includes means integral therewith for supporting the test tube on a surface, thereby eliminating the need for separate test tube racks or other test tube supports.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved test tube holder formed of bent wire, which includes wire structure for allowing the holder to function as a supporting means for a test tube relative to a surface, the supporting structure being so disposed as not to interfere with the manipulation of the device while heating the test tube or otherwise manipulating the same.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawing, FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a test tube holder embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a holder illustrating a modified form of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the lower portion of the holder shown in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, designates a test tube holder embodying the invention. The same is formed of stiff metal wire which is bent and twisted to form the several portions thereof. Thus, the holder 10 comprises a pair of opposed jaw portions 11, 12 formed to grip a test tube T therebetween. Extending from jaw portions 11, 12 are angular arm portions '13, 14 disposed in cross-over relation at point 15. Extending rearwardly from arm portions 13, 14 are substantially parallel handle portions 16, 17.

Handle portions 16, 17 have at their rear ends inwardly directed rear portions 18, 19 from which extends downwardly an intertwisted portion 20. Downwardly divergent arm portions 21, 22 extend from intentwisted portion 20 with horizontal, parallel arm portions 23, 24 extending forwardly from arm portions 21, 22 respectively. The outer ends of arm portions 23, 24 are interconnected by a V shaped arm portion 25.

It will be apparent from a consideration of FIG. 1 that test tube T is resiliently gripped between jaw portions 11, 12 and may be released therefrom by squeezing handle portions 16, 17 toward each other. The gripped test tube T may thus be heated over a Bunsen burner, not shown, by holding either handle portions 16, 17 of "ice twisted portion 20. The lower end of test tube T will be clear of lower arm portions 23, 24 by reason of the re entrant V shaped portion 25.

When it is desired to set the test tube T aside, after heating or the like, then lower arm portions 23, 24 form support means engageable with a supporting surface S, as indicated in FIG. 1, thereby allowing test tube holder 10 to be used as a supporting means. Thus, test tube T does not have to be transferred to a separate test tube rack, as is required when using a conventional test tube holder.

An alternative form of test tube holder and support is shown in FIGS. 2, 3 at 10A. Here device 10A is also formed of stiff metal wire twisted to the indicated shape. Device 10A includes jaw portions 11A, 12A and the angular armportions 13A, 14A with a cross over at 15A. Extending from arm portions 13A, 14A are downwardly curved arm portions 26, 27 which are interconnected at their outer ends by a reentrant portion 28 comprising short arm portions 29, 30, thereby forming a pair of corner portions 31, 32.

Thus, test tube T is again gripped resiliently between jaw portions 11A, 12A and held by arm portions 26, 27 while heating the test tube. Squeezing arm portions 26, 27 together will effect release of test tube T. The gripped test tube T may be supported on a surface S by virtue of engagement of corner portions 31, 32 with said surface while the bottom of the test tube makes contact with said surface.

The test tube holders .10, 10A are formed of steel wire of suitable gauge to provide the requisite resilience for urging the jaw portions thereof into clamping relation to test tube T.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided improved test tube holders which also function as supports for the test tube after the same has been manipulated as by heating or the like, thereby eliminating the need for separate test tube racks or other convention test tube supporting means.

As various changes might be made in the embodiments of the invention herein shown without departing from the spirit of the invention, it is understood that all matter herein shown or described shall be deemed illustrative and not limiting except as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

A combination test tube holder and support comprising wire bent to provide a pair of opposed vertically disposed test tube gripping jaw portions, a pair of laterally related horizontally disposed opposed wire portions extending respectively and rearwardly from said jaw portions, for resiliently urging said jaw portions toward each other, a pair of laterally related horizontally disposed, opposed surface engaging wire portions vertically spaced below said pair of opposed wire portions, a pair of vertically disposed interconnected wire portions fixedly interconnecting the rear end portions of said pair of opposed wire portions and said pair of opposed surface engaging wire portions, and a rearwardly extending reentrant wire portion interconnecting the forward ends of said pair of surface engaging wire portions forming a V shaped opening vertically aligned with said gripping jaw portions whereby a test tube may be engaged at upper portions thereof by said gripping jaw portions and the lower end of said test tube is vertically aligned with said V shaped opening to allow the lower end of said test tube to be heated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 Holtzman Nov. 10, 1931 Bassetti -2 June 1, 1937 Ross Mar. 17, 1953 Umstead Oct. 4, 1955 Jaros Feb. 16, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Dec. 28, 1899 

